A rural community group
is to meet today with the Lough Swilly Bus Company
following its decision to discontinue its service to
Malin Head.
Malin Head Community Association described the
decision to stop the route as a "serious blow" to
the region - Ireland's most northerly point and one
of the most isolated communities on the Inishowen
peninsula.
"The Swilly bus service is vital for the elderly in
our community and families without cars. We are 14
miles from the nearest village of Malin and 18 miles
from Carndonagh," said Malin Head Community
Association chairperson, Cathy O'Donnell. "While we
would admit that the bus is not full with passengers
all the time, there are a number of local people who
depend on it very much throughout the week.
"It's also used by tourists, backpackers and
students who come to study the geology of the area,"
she said.
The Malin Head route had operated twice-a-day, four
days a week. It officially ended at midday on
Saturday.
The service is among a number of rural Donegal
routes that have been under threat in recent years.
The Lough Swilly Bus Company, which is owned by
Irish property developer, Pat Doherty of Harcourt
Developments, has said in the past that it cannot
continue subsidising loss-making routes.
The Malin Head Community Association representatives
will be accompanied today at the bus company's Derry
offices by local Sinn Féin councillor Pádraig
MacLochlainn. He said such a rural bus service
should not be "driven by profit".
"These public services should never be driven by
profit but must be there to ensure equality of
access for all citizens.
" My initial discussions with the representatives of
the Lough Swilly Bus Company have established that
the issue of a lack of Government subsidies to
support this route is the main issue at stake.
"In our meeting tomorrow I hope to establish the
level of subsidies required and to embark on a plan
of action in partnership with the local community
association to ensure that the Government meet their
responsibilities to the community of Malin Head in
this regard." |
